102 NATURAL HISTORY OF 



able, and consequently, that human bones found among 

 them, and under similar conditions, should not be made 

 exceptions upon hypothetical assumptions, but treated 

 similarly with those around them. No new theory of 

 guesses should be admitted for every recurring case. 

 With regard to the pretence, that they may have 

 dropped into the caves, it is to be observed, that few of 

 these receptacles have been found to have perceptible 

 openings, excepting such as have been accidentally 

 made in later times ; besides, no accident could place 

 them under the stalagmite subsequent to its formation. 

 When recourse was had, to the supposition, that after the 

 ossiferous formation was completed, either by deposits 

 caused by floods, by the gradual accumulation produced 

 through the intervention of resident carnivora, or in 

 any other way, they were buried in the caves ; without 

 considering that savages, who, as the presence of flint 

 knives proves, could with such implements hardly break 

 through the dense stalagmite crust, and, from their 

 nature, would scarcely be willing to effect a passage 

 through what must have been viewed by them as solid 

 rock ; when, within the distance of a few yards, they 

 would bury a relative, worthy the trouble, with ease, 

 in the common soil.* If, in truth, the human bones 

 found among the others had been placed in those recep- 

 tacles by the hand of man, there would be tokens of 



* To a comparatively late age, when tools were not want- 

 ing, human bones are found deposited very near or on the 

 surface, not buried, but covered with heaps of stones or 

 earth, forming cairns or barrows. 



